Spring River (Arkansas)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Spring River in southwest Missouri, see Spring River (Missouri).
Spring River
Origin Howell County, Missouri
Mouth Eleven Point River
Length 92 km (57 mi)
Source elevation 72 m (236 ft)

The Spring River is a 57-mile (92-km) long river which flows through the U.S. states of Missouri and Arkansas.[1][2] It consists of two branches, the South Fork of the Spring River and the Spring River proper.[3] The South Fork of the Spring River starts in Howell County, Missouri and flows south through Fulton and Sharp counties in Arkansas.[4] The South Fork of the Spring River joins the Spring River proper near the town of Hardy, Arkansas.[4] The South Fork is a quiet stream with gravelly bars that are ideal for camping.[4]

The Spring River proper begins where Mammoth Spring and Warm Fork of the Spring River merge at Mammoth Spring State Park in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.[5] Mammoth Spring is the outlet of an underground river that runs from Missouri into Arkansas.[6] Over 9.78 million US gallons (37,000 m3) per hour flow out of the massive spring and forms the Spring River.[7] Being predominantly spring fed with water averaging 58 °F (14 °C), the river is kept cool during warmer months and is suitable trout habitate for several miles.

The Spring River proper is a popular destination for tourists, canoers, and for riding inner tubes ("toobers").[1] The most popular stretch of the river is between Mammoth Spring and the tourist town of Hardy.[1] Below Hardy, the Spring River flows past Ravenden, Arkansas and Imboden, Arkansas to its confluence with the Eleven Point River near Old Davidsonville State Park. The Spring River joins the Black River near Black Rock, Arkansas. There are a variety of outfitters along the river who provide supplies, canoe rental, and shuttle services in the area between Mammoth Spring and Hardy.[7] Several resorts provide lodging for the tourist.[7]

The Spring River has a diverse population of fish including trout, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, and tiger muskies.[8] A state record tiger muskie weighing 23 lb 12 oz (10.8 kg) was caught in the river in 1995.[9] The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission maintains a trout hatchery on the river and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service operates another on the river near Mammoth Spring.[10][11]

Flooding

In March, 2008 a vigorous, slow moving low pressure system moved out of Texas and into Arkansas inundating the area with over a foot of rain falling in some areas of Arkansas and Missouri.[12] Heavy rainfall rates caused the river to over flow its banks with an observed maximum depth of 22.29 feet (6.79 m). This river level had only been surpassed by the record 1982 floods that reached a level of 29 feet.[13] The mayor of Hardy ordered evacuation of 250 citizens of the town because of dangerous river levels that flooded over 100 buildings in and around the Spring River.[14]

See also

  • List of Arkansas rivers
  • List of Missouri rivers

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wildernet: Spring River, Arkansas
  2. ↑ Ozark Connections: Spring River
  3. ↑ Fishing Traveler Spring River, Arkansas
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 South Fork of the Spring River
  5. ↑ Fishing the Arkansas Ozarks: Spring River
  6. ↑ Arkansas State Parks: Mammoth Spring
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 GORP: Spring River Profile
  8. ↑ Arkansas.com Rainbow trout fishing and brown trout fishing on the Spring River
  9. ↑ Arkansas Fishing Records
  10. ↑ State fish hatchery turns out the trout
  11. ↑ Fishing the Spring River
  12. ↑ NWS AHPS: Precipitation Analysis
  13. ↑ NWS AHPS: Spring River at Hardy
  14. ↑ Arkansas Matters - Flooding in Hardy

External links

Coordinates: 36°6′53″N 91°4′26″W / 36.11472°N 91.07389°W / 36.11472; -91.07389

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.